rantings of a bald man

Fallen a short story part thirteen

After a while it opens, a tall woman stands in the doorway framed by the light behind her. “BB” she says, points at us “And these are?”
BB looks even more unsure but takes a deep breath, “Strangers” she reluctantly admits “They need help…. ”

I step forward “I’m Fallen and this is Pixie, we.. “ and then I stop not sure what else to say. The woman looks me in the eye for what seems like forever, then she seems to make a decision. “I’m Jessica, welcome to Sanctuary” with that she turns her back to us and walks inside. I turn to BB who is heading back to her car, “Thank you” I just about manage to say, for some reason my eyes are wet with tears. She gives me a wave goodbye, and Pixie and I enter Sanctuary.

Jessica turns towards us, “We have rules here, people come to us who need help, and protection. I cannot let you stay for long, BB should not have brought you here, but she did.”

Part Thirteen

Jessica points at me “You fucking piece of shit in that room” she points to a door right near the entrance. She grabs hold of Pixies hand “You come with me” she tells her and they slowly walk off hand in hand down the corridor.

As they go I feel what little strength remains go with them, or should I say Pixie. I open the door and enter, what turns out to be a sparse room smelling slightly of piss. An old bed fills most of it, my body falls onto it and I am overtaken by blissful oblivion.

The next morning comes around far to soon, my body aches for more rest, I rub my sleep coated eyes and collapse from the bed. My hands are shaking, a fine tremor that scares me until I realise no alcohol has passed my lips since the sweetest of vodka, at the beginning. I grind my teeth and more nostrils flare seemingly searching for the hint of alcohol in the air. I light a cigarette for breakfast and head of in search of Pixie.

I find them easily enough, Pixie’s shouts can be heard behind a door at the end of a corridor, my heart quickens along with my footsteps, I don’t knock just throw the door open and charge in. Jessica is sitting holding Pixie in a tight hug, encircling her arms as Pixie tries to thrash her arms about. “What the fucks going on!” I cry, half anger, half terror.

Pixies wild staring eyes meet mine, the pain and despair, seeming to be sent straight to my synapses. I head towards them both, ready to throw Jessica off, and rescue Pixie. “Sit down you fucking idiot” Jessica spits at me, “When’s the last time the poor fucker had dust?” she questions me. “I I don’t know” I stammer in reply “Maybe yesterday” Jessica continues to try and soothe Pixie “Well” she tells me “its been to long for her, she is fucked up bad” I look at them both, powerless for some reason I search my pockets as if dust has magically appeared in them.

“What should I do?” I ask Jessica. “Two choices” she replies “Get her some of that shit she has been burning her brain with. Or leave her with me, give me a day she can ride it out, go clean”

I try to look at Pixie, but just cant, so looking at the floor I ask her what she wants.
Through lips red with blood where she has bitten through them she tells me to go, just fucking go. I turn and half running half stumbling head outside.

I sit head in hands, at first I wonder what that awful noise is I can hear, then slowly realise its my own wails of anguish. I have killed again, Pixie has killed for the first time and the same thought keeps going round and around my mind, screaming at me from inside my head I WANT A FUCKING DRINK, I wan the numbness I want to forgot to jump into the abyss, no thoughts no feelings just a low dull ache of nothing. Then I think of Pixie in her own private hell, craving her own poison, chasing her own demons, and I collapse to the floor and vomit up bile which seems to come from both my body and my soul.

I’m not sure how long I lay there, but I mange to get onto my hands and knees then stand. Dizzy at first but somehow calmer and stronger. This package this job, I have to finish it. Order, prioritise, what do I need? First we have to get to the Dead Zone, one step closer to the end. I dare not travel far from Sanctuary, but must find a guide from somewhere, anywhere.

The streets are almost empty, and anyone around is keeping well away from me. Who can blame them? Most seem to be heading south so I figure that’s the way I will go, not far and just straight down then I can just turn around to head straight back.

I don’t have to go far when I see more and more people gathered and as I get closer I see what looks to be a market of some sort. My first, second and third thought is alcohol but I brace myself, thinking of Pixie the last time I was with her. I head to a stall which seems fairly quiet and walk straight up to its owner, a woman, quite short and dressed in what looks like a fairly decent suit. She eyes me up and down as I approach, not impressed, but business is business, she holds out a hand for me to shake “Hello sir, Mary H C at your service”
I take her hand surprised at its strength “And what services do you offer?” I ask.
She grins “ bodyguard, personal protection and escort services” she replies.
“Mary, I may have a job for you” I tell her, the hint of a smile appearing on my face.

This entry was posted on Friday, May 6th, 2011 at 10:25 pm. It is filed under Ideas for my first novel and tagged with novel ideas. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.